Convertible deer cart

ABSTRACT

A hand-propelled or vehicle-towed convertible deer cart incorporates side walls that are locked vertically when collapsed to a first geometry of very small size for storage and transport, and also when readily reconfigured for use as a larger transport cart or trailer. When further reconfigured for use as a hunting stand, the side walls are pivoted from vertical to horizontal and form a part of a larger platform in combination with the cart bed. A pair of ladders may be stored within the cart bed when configured as a transport cart. The ladders are pivoted about their longitudinal axis to convert to the larger transport cart, and then extended to full-length ladders in the hunting stand geometry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to land vehicles that arewheeled and convertible, which may be stabilized and handle-propelled byan attendant or alternatively articulated with a towing vehicle, andhaving laterally spaced wheels and a receptacle body. In a more specificmanifestation, the invention pertains to a hand-propelled orvehicle-towed cart which may be collapsed to very small size for storageand transport, and may further be readily reconfigured for use as atransport cart or trailer, and may further be reconfigured for use as ahunting stand.

2. Description of the Related Art

At least some early civilizations, at or predating recorded times, werebelieved to be relatively nomadic, generally traveling about overrelatively large distances both hunting and gathering food. In manycases, early records suggest that man used simple clubs, spears andother basic tools to assist with hunting. There are locations whereearly man may have also used natural features such as cliffs or the likeoff which individual animals or herds may have been driven. These typesof hunting techniques required very close range or proximity with thehunted animals, and so could be expeditiously conducted at nearly anylocation, even in relatively close proximity with a permanently-locatedor temporary village or residence.

More modern equipment has been developed that permits a hunter to be atsubstantially greater distances from the game being hunted. Exemplaryequipment includes various firearms such as rifles and pistols whichwill fire ammunition hundreds or even thousands of yards. These modernfirearms enable a hunter to seek out a relatively concealed location,and then wait for game to pass within reasonable shooting range. Thehunter will commonly travel to and from a relatively remote huntinglocation, and remain relatively stationary there. A hunter may alsopreferably set up at a small elevation above the ground. This elevationoften provides the hunter with a broader view, and may also in somesituations reduce the likelihood of being seen or smelled by the game.The elevation also may provide a better shooting angle, depending uponthe surrounding topography. A portable stand permits improved hunting inchanging locations or in locations where it is not possible or feasibleto set up a permanent stand.

A modern hunter will also frequently bring with additional huntingequipment beyond the primary weapon, which might for exemplary purposesbe a bow or firearm. The hunter may prefer to bring items of safety,convenience and recreation, such as flashlights, survival kits, food andbeverages, different firearms, extra munitions, knives or other cleaningor butchering tools, game calls, extra garments for varying temperaturesand possible precipitation, camping gear, binoculars, and many otherdiverse items selected by an individual hunter as being desirable. Ifgame is in fact killed or bagged, the game will need transported outfrom the remote location, along with any supplies not yet consumed orspent. Since some hunting locations may be accessible by motorizedvehicle and others may only be accessed on foot, it is desirable toenable a hunter to easily transport as much or as little gear as thehunter may prefer, using whatever method is most convenient and desiredfor a given hunting location.

Once the hunt is finished, many hunters may drag any harvested game fromthe remote hunting location, either manually or with the assistance of amotorized vehicle such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or the like.Unfortunately, manually dragging a larger animal is extremely strenuous,and is harmful to the hide or pelt of the animal. An ATV relieves themanual effort, but still requires that the animal be carefully secured,and the hide or pelt will still be harmed.

Artisans have heretofore recognized the desirability of porting suppliesinto and out of a remote location, along with porting any killed gameout of the remote location. The broader concept of a convertible cartand hunting stand is disclosed, for exemplary purposes in U.S. Pat. No.6,186,271 by Borries et al, entitled “Hunting stand and game carrier,”the teachings which are incorporated herein by reference. This patentdescribes a convertible cart and stand which allegedly may collapse forstorage, but there is no illustration of how the components arerearranged to enable the deployed and collapsed positions.

A large number of additional patents illustrate other prior art cartsand platforms, the teachings of each which are additionally incorporatedherein by reference, including: U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,118 by Reinhardt,entitled “Movable elevated work platform supporting structure;” U.S.Pat. No. 3,282,375 by Ray, entitled “Mobile stand for huntersconvertible to a hand cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,787 by McSwain,entitled “Collapsible hunting shelter;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,999 byMcSwain, entitled “Hunting stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,379 by Riggs,entitled “Combination tree stand and game cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,629by Brunes, entitled “Pack frame and tree seat structure;” U.S. Pat. No.3,422,923 by Lund, entitled “Convertible combination platform and stepfor ladders;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,155 by Guidara, entitled “Stepladderdolly;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,040 by Fails, entitled “Deer stand and gamecarrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,982 by Strickland, entitled “Treeclimbing-hunting and game cart device;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,737 by Coryet al, entitled “Game carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,456 by Rohde,entitled “Lookout convertible to a compact dolly;” U.S. Pat. No.5,064,020 by Eagleson, entitled “Device for hunting large and smallgame;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,908 by Freund, entitled “Ladder treestand andtrailer rit;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,062 by Laney, entitled “ATV supportrack apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,732 by Daniels, entitled “Portablefolding tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,556 by Mullin, entitled“Multipurpose hunting cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,192 by Thompson,entitled “Manual pull-type carrier for transporting a large gamecarcass;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,196 by Michno, entitled “Portable deercart and tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,720 by Stringer, entitled“Portable game cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,780 by Bambrough, entitled“Ladder-based cart apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,008 by Beardslee,entitled “Convertible tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,928 by Jury,entitled “Folding portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,978 by Rhodes etal, entitled “Foldable load conveyance apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No.5,740,882 by Griffith et al, entitled “Combination hunting stand andgame carrier apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,538 by Magyar, entitled“Foldable portable tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,582 by Kauffman etal, entitled “Convertible hunting utility cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,676by Harbin, entitled “Accessory for allowing use of a tree stand as agame carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,278 by Myers, entitled “Multiple useconvertible elevated stand and cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,284 by Smith,entitled “Elevatable stands for physically challenged hunters;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,260,864 by Smith, entitled “Game transporting system;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,308,968 by Hollingsworth, entitled “Collapsible hunting cartapparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,787 by Mason, entitled “Rough terraincarrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,200 by Harter, entitled “Wheeled carrierand seat assembly for use while hunting with decoys;” U.S. Pat. No.6,481,529 by Voorhies, entitled “Climbing tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No.6,505,707 by Berry, entitled “Combination tree stand, blind andequipment carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,867 by Angstadt, entitled“Portable multi-activity outdoor recreation apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No.6,561,529 by Darling, entitled “Versatile portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No.6,688,635 by Watts, entitled “Multi-purpose deer-hunting cart;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,811,180 by Molliere, entitled “Combination work andrecreation cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,939 by Darling, entitled“Versatile portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,737 by Smith et al,entitled “ATV accessories;” and U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,959 by Davis,entitled “Deer stand and deer carrier rack for an ATV.” Additionally,Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition copyright1983, is incorporated herein by reference in entirety for thedefinitions of words and terms used herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first manifestation, the invention is a wheeled and convertibledeer cart having laterally spaced wheels; and a receptacle body having abed and side walls that extend generally perpendicular to the bed in afirst configuration and a second configuration, and which are pivotal toextend generally parallel to the bed in a third configuration. A pair ofladders are received within the bed in the first configuration, the pairof ladders pivotal and spaced distally at opposed ends of the bed in asecond configuration and also in the third configuration. The laddersare compacted in the second configuration and extended in the thirdconfiguration. The first configuration defines a utility cart, thesecond configuration defines a utility cart larger than the firstconfiguration, and the third configuration defines a stand.

In a second manifestation, the invention is, in combination, anarticulated transport cart and human harness. The articulated transportcart has at least two ground traversing wheels; a bed carried upon theground traversing wheels; and a ball receiver coupled to the bed andmoveable therewith. The human harness has a body member engaging a humanbody and moveable therewith; and a ball coupled to the body member. Theball and ball receiver are coupled for relative motion therebetween.

In a third manifestation, the invention is a wheeled cart convertiblebetween a compact trailer geometry, a deer cart geometry, and a deerstand geometry. The cart has a load-supporting bed. At least one sidewall adjacent to the load-supporting bed is pivotal with respect theretobetween co-planar with the load-supporting bed and perpendicularthereto. At least one wheel is supported by the at least one side walland is pivotal therewith respect to the load-supporting bed. At leastone ladder is adjacent the load-supporting bed and pivotal with respectthereto. At least one leg member is supporting the at least one ladderat an angle with respect to the load-supporting bed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of theprior art by providing a hand-propelled cart which may be collapsed tovery small size for storage and transport, and may further be readilyreconfigured for use as a transport cart or trailer, and may further bereconfigured again for use as a hunting stand.

A first object of the invention is to provide a mobile cart that may bepropelled by a human operator through rough terrain, underbrush, andwoods, and which may be used to transport game, equipment, injuredindividuals, and other diverse and potentially heavy loads. A secondobject of the invention is to provide alternative methods of coupling toa source of motive power, including the provision of both humanpush-pull and motive vehicular couplings to permit a hunter to access ahunting location by either walking or driving a motorized vehicle, whilestill enjoying the remaining benefits of the present invention. Anotherobject of the present invention is to enable a hunter to actively huntwhile transporting a cart designed in accord with the teachings of thepresent invention. A further object of the invention is to enable acompletely self-contained generally rectangular utility trailer to bequickly and easily converted to a mobile cart suitable for transportinglarge game and other objects, and further to a free-standing stand ofsufficient height to permit hunting deer or other game therefrom,preferably manually without the need for tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of thepresent invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to thefollowing detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment convertible deer cartconfigured in a utility cart geometry in accord with the teachings ofthe present invention from a side plan view.

FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 1 reconfigured to a deer transport cart geometry in accord with theteachings of the present invention from a side plan view.

FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 1 reconfigured to a free-standing deer stand geometry in accordwith the teachings of the present invention from a front plan view.

FIG. 4 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 1 configured in a utility cart geometry in accord with theteachings of the present invention from a rear plan view.

FIG. 5 illustrates alternative positioning of the front laddertermination, visible for exemplary purposes in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate intermediate steps in the conversion of thepreferred embodiment convertible deer cart configured in a utility cartgeometry of FIG. 1 to a deer transport cart of FIG. 2 from side planviews.

FIG. 8 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 2 configured to a deer transport cart geometry in furthercombination with a preferred embodiment walking harness, in accord withthe teachings of the present invention from a side plan view.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate the extension of front ladder 20 from a fullyfolded configuration of FIG. 9 such as found in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-8 to apartially folded configuration of FIG. 10, to a fully extendedconfiguration of FIG. 11 as found in FIG. 3, each from side plan view.

FIG. 12 illustrates front ladder 20 in a fully extended configuration ofFIG. 11 and as found in FIG. 3 from a front plan view.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate several intermediate steps in the progressionof the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart from a deer transportcart configuration as illustrated in FIG. 2 to a free-standing deerstand geometry such as illustrated in FIG. 3, each from simplified frontplan view, and illustrating alternative, progressive positions by dashedline.

FIG. 15 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 3 as configured to a free-standing deer stand geometry in accordwith the teachings of the present invention from a side plan view, andfurther including stabilizing straps.

FIG. 16 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 2 as configured to a deer transport cart geometry in accord withthe teachings of the present invention from a front plan view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment convertible deer cartconfigured in a utility cart geometry 10. A tongue 134 may optionally beprovided to couple to motorized vehicles through a typical hitch pin, orthrough any other suitable coupling technique, to the balance of theutility cart geometry 10. Side wall 120 is, for exemplary purposes andnot limited thereto, fabricated from expanded metal. Defining theboundaries of side wall 120 are boundary members 92, 94, 96, and 98.Extending in a plane generally parallel to side wall 120 is wheel 118.Vertical wheel support member 102 extends generally about wheel 118, andin the preferred embodiment may serve as one anchor point for an axle(visible in FIG. 4) extending through wheel 118. Vertical wheel supportmember 102 forms a right angle coupling with horizontal wheel supportmember 100, which in turn terminates at coupling 226 (visible in FIG.4). Coupling 226 may slide upon member 146 and may therefore be removedvertically therefrom. Coupling 226 may further be pinned, bolted, orotherwise fastened to member 146 to lock the two in relative position.In the preferred embodiment, all connections are made using wire lockpins where the pin passes through appropriate holes in each member to becoupled, and a wire loop wraps around the pin to secure the pin againstdisconnect. The wire lock pins may be further secured against accidentaldrop or loss through wire lanyards or the like anchored to adjacentmembers. Wire lock pins with or without lanyards are well known in thehardware industry, and combine ease of installation with securefastening while simultaneously not requiring any tools for fastening orremoval.

Riser members 124, 126 extend partially vertically along side wall 120,and are used to form a pivotal coupling with members 160, 162,respectively, to permit side wall 120 to be pivoted from the verticalconfiguration shown in FIG. 1 to the horizontal configuration shown inFIG. 3. As also visible in FIG. 3, and also apparent from FIG. 4, thereare corresponding components on the opposite side of utility cartgeometry 10, including side walls 121, boundary members 93, 95, 97, 99,wheel 119, vertical wheel support member 103, horizontal wheel supportmember 101, coupling 227, member 147, riser members 125, 127 and members161, 163, each which operate in exactly the same manner as the evennumbered counterparts generally visible in the side view of FIG. 1.

Continuing with the description of components visible in FIG. 1, risermembers 124, 126 may optionally serve as a temporary holder for feet122, 123 ultimately used in the free-standing deer stand configuration12 of FIG. 3. To help maintain member 146 in vertical orientation shownin FIG. 1 relative to boundary member 98, a reinforcing triangle 116 isfurther provided. Pockets 80 and 82 may additionally be provided, forexemplary purposes fabricated from square tubing with the center openingextending longitudinally parallel to the ground and normal(perpendicular) to the plane of the paper.

As may be apparent from FIG. 1, this utility cart configuration 10defines a space between wheels 118, 119 in which various cargo may becarried. In most applications, unused components will additionally becarried in the space between wheels 118, 119. This will include ladders20, 30, terminating respectively with terminations 138, 136, eachvisible at least in part in FIG. 1, and also various members 140-143,and 148-155 visible in FIG. 4. A seat bottom 168 and top 170 arepivotally interconnected, and will ultimately find utility in deer standconfiguration 12 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 15. Likewise, a pair ofstops 128, 130 are visible in FIG. 1, again finding utility as ladderpivot stops in the deer stand configuration 12 illustrated in FIG. 15.

FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 1 reconfigured to a deer transport cart geometry 11. By way of thepresent illustrations and description pertaining thereto, the conversionof the present invention from one geometry to another is enabled bymaintaining the numbering of identical components, so that a personreasonably skilled in the art may simply follow the movement ofcomponents as configuration geometries are changed. To reconfigure thedeer transport cart geometry 11 from utility cart geometry 10, ladders20, 30 are each pulled out from between wheels 118, 119, and thenterminations 138, 136 may be rotated about their longitudinal axes asillustrated in FIG. 5, such that they now extend upward rather thandownward as illustrated in FIG. 1. This may alternatively be achieved byflipping ladders 20, 30 about their longitudinal axis. Next, ladders 20,30 at ladder segments 104, 110 are pinned pivotally adjacent to bedboundaries 222, 224, respectively. This leads to the arrangement visiblein FIG. 6. Next, leg members 140, 142, 144 are coupled together, in thepreferred embodiment at particular holes using the wire lock pinsdescribed herein above, to yield a predetermined length of the combinedleg members 140, 142, 144 as shown in FIG. 7. The combined leg members140, 142, 144 are then coupled directly to member 146 and fixedlycoupled therewith. This stage of assembly is as illustrated in FIG. 7.Next, ladders 20, 30 are elevated, and coupled to leg members 140, 142,144 to yield the arrangement of FIG. 2. To complete the deer transportcart geometry 11 of FIG. 2, tongue 134 may be coupled through bracingmembers 132 to ladder 20, and the few remaining unused components 148,150 strapped using flaccid fasteners 214, 218 onto the coupled assemblyof leg members 140, 142, 144. Deer transport cart geometry 11 does notrequire the use of tongue 134 and bracing members 132 when manuallypushed or pulled. In fact, terminations 138, 136 serve as manualgrasping points which may be used to either push or pull the preferredembodiment cart about. In this preferred embodiment, small protrusions212, 216 are provided, which may for exemplary purposes be tubularcomponents. Flaccid fasteners 214, 218, which may for exemplary purposescomprise hook and loop (Velcro™ or the like) straps, are securelyaffixed respectively to small protrusions 212, 216 by riveting or anyother suitable fastening means. Once again, there are comparablecomponents on the opposing side of the preferred embodiment cart,including protrusion 213 visible in FIG. 16.

FIG. 8 illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart ofFIG. 2 configured to a deer transport cart geometry 11 and in furthercombination with a preferred embodiment walking harness 40 to yield aharness pulled cart geometry 13. Harness 40, for exemplary purposesonly, might include a shoulder strap 190, back strap 188, belt 192, eachwhich are designed to securely engage person 300. An L-shaped bracket186 supports ball 184, which most preferably resembles hitch balls incommon use today coupling trailers to automobiles. This type of ball, incombination with suitable ball receiver 182, permits a wide range ofrelative angular displacement, while still maintaining L-shaped bracket186 adjacent to extension 180 to thereby couple pushing or pullingmovement from person 300 to termination 138. A suitable clamp or othertype of coupler 178 is fastened to and preferably releasably clamps totermination 138. This harness pulled cart geometry 13 has much utilityfor a hunter who is on the move, but who wishes to be able to carry afirearm or other weapon in a ready position. In fact, person 300 maypivot relative to extension 180 nearly through a full circle, in theevent game is spotted.

Conversion from deer transport cart geometry 11 to a free-standing deerstand geometry 12 illustrated in FIG. 3 requires the extension ofladders 20, 30, which is illustrated by the extension of front ladder 20for exemplary purposes in the sequence of FIGS. 9-11. FIG. 9 illustratesa fully folded configuration such as found in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-8, but inmuch greater detail. Through the alternative dashed lines, termination138 is removed from ladder segment 104, and then ladder segment 108 ispivoted in the direction illustrated by arrow 900, ultimately into acoaxial alignment with ladder segment 104 as illustrated by FIG. 10.Bracket 902 nests about bracket 904, and, owing to the illustratedgeometries, bracket 904 will stop against bracket 902 when laddersegment 108 is coaxial with ladder segment 104. Next, ladder segment 106is unfolded as shown by arrow 1000, again pivoting bracket 908 withinbracket 906 and ultimately bringing ladder segment 106 into coaxialalignment with ladder segments 104, 108, where bracket 908 will engagewith and stop against bracket 906. Finally, termination 138 is placedinto ladder segment 106 distal to ladder segment 108, to form a foot asmay be best visible in FIG. 15. This fully extended configuration isshown by FIG. 11 from side view, and FIG. 12 from a front plan view. Asevident in FIG. 12, each ladder segment 104-108 may carry any number ofrungs 174 which are provided to facilitate a person climbing each laddersegment. Once extended, ladder 20 will be pivoted into engagement withstop 130, and ladder 30 will be pivoted into engagement with stop 128.Straps 194, 196 may be used through buckles 256, 258 to exert force onladders 20, 30, keeping the ladders tightly engaged with stops 128, 130and rigid therewith.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate several intermediate steps in the progressionof the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart from a deer transportcart geometry 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to a free-standing deer standgeometry 12 as illustrated in FIG. 3, each from simplified front planview, and illustrating alternative, progressive positions by dashedline. The order of sequence between FIGS. 13 and 14 is not critical tothe operation of the present invention. In other words, therearrangements of FIG. 14 may be made either before or after those ofFIG. 13. As FIG. 13 illustrates, once ladders 20, 30 are extended andlocked, through the motion shown by arrow 1300 the preferred embodimentconvertible deer cart may be stood up into vertical position. FIG. 14illustrates the pivoting of wheel assemblies in the direction of arrow1400 about riser members 124, 125, 126, and the fourth riser, notillustrated, each which may be pinned (and therefore pivotal about thepin longitudinal axis) with members 160-163.

To finish the conversion, leg members 140, 142, 144 and leg members 141,143, 145 are adjusted to a second predetermined length through pinholes, and are then coupled to members 146, 147, respectively. Feet 122,123 are placed to terminate the leg members. Seat base 168 and back 170are mounted upon pedestal 172, and the framework 148, 150, 154 may thenbe inserted into pockets 80, 82, and like pockets on the opposed sidepanel which are not visible in the illustrations, and then assembled toform a railing which may optionally serve as a gun rest.

The preferred embodiment convertible deer cart may be manufactured froma variety of materials, including metals, resins and plastics, ceramicsor cementitious materials, or even combinations or composites of theabove. The specific material used may vary, though special benefits areattainable if several important factors are taken into consideration.Firstly, the apparatus preferably will should be sufficiently light toenable more convenient transport, but must maintain sufficient strengthto support a person upon seat bottom 168 in normal use when in thefree-standing deer stand geometry 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 15.Most preferably, the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart willalso be weather resistant and sufficiently durable to withstand theparticular climate for the intended application, including any forcesthat may be applied that could tend to fracture or shear any componentsused therein. In the preferred embodiment, ordinary carbon still may bepowder coated, dip coated, painted, or otherwise treated. More expensivemetal alloys may, of course, also be used, but cost will be ofconsideration. Metal alloys will include all metal alloys that aresuitable, with aluminum and stainless steel being merely exemplary.

In consideration of the various alternative geometries 10-12 illustratedherein, the incorporation of color coding, dots, labels or other indiciaon or adjacent to coupled components to illustrate proper placement ofpins and components is further contemplated herein. Such indicia may beused as appropriate to facilitate the reconfiguration of the preferredembodiment into any of the various geometries.

While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodimentof the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimedinvention are intended. Further, features and design alternatives thatwould be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered tobe incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth andparticularly described in the claims herein below.

1. A wheeled and convertible deer cart, comprising: a receptacle bodyhaving a bed and side walls that extend generally perpendicular to saidbed in a first configuration defining a utility cart and a secondconfiguration defining a deer cart larger than said first configuration,and said side walls pivotal to extend generally parallel to said bed ina third configuration defining a stand; laterally spaced wheels coupledwith and operatively supporting said receptacle body in said first andsecond configurations; a pair of ladders received within said bed insaid first configuration, said pair of ladders pivotal and spaceddistally at opposed ends of said bed in said second configuration andalso in said third configuration, and said ladders compacted in saidsecond configuration and extended in said third configuration; and atleast two longitudinally extensive leg members that in said third standconfiguration extend from a first end adjacent a ground surface to asecond end distal to said first end that supports said bed above saidground surface, and that in said second deer cart configuration arecoupled at distal ends to said ladders to maintain an end of each ofsaid pair of ladders that is distal to said bed elevated above said bed,and in combination therewith generally define an upper cartcircumference.
 2. The wheeled and convertible deer cart of claim 1,further comprising a tongue coupled with said receptacle body and with atow coupler.
 3. The wheeled and convertible deer cart of claim 2,further comprising a human harness having a ball extending therefrom andengaged with said tow coupler, said wheeled and convertible deer cartthereby stabilized and hand-propelled by a human attendant.
 4. Thewheeled and convertible deer cart of claim 2, wherein said tow coupleris further articulated with a towing vehicle.
 5. The wheeled andconvertible deer cart of claim 1, further comprising a laddertermination removable from said pair of ladders and extending generallyperpendicular thereto.